Wabash Valley Living May 2015 Edition by Wabash Valley Living

#WabashValley

LIVING MAY 2015

SPRING HOME EDITION AT LEAST 20 COUPONS IN THIS ISSUE!

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LIVING

Your Guide to Adams-Jay-Mercer-Van Wert & Wells Counties!

Volume 7 | Number 5 | May 2015

CONTENTS

Editor

AMY M. ORR Contributors DEE FISHER JIM KIRKWOOD SYLVIA MARBACH TIFFANY SCHORTGEN

MAY 2015

Advertising ED FERGUSON MARY ANN SEAVERS

Cover Photo Courtesy of Sylvia Marbach

www.wabashvalleyliving.com

info@wabashvalleyliving.com

Priority:LOCAL

5 WHOLESALE CARPET OUTLET

Publishing

Portland, Indiana | Flooring at Discount Prices

(260)849-2187

11 SIMON'S MANUFACTURING

Locally Owned & Operated Since 2009

Berne, Indiana | Concrete Steps & Outdoor Décor

Wabash Valley Living is printed by:

17 MEMORIAL DAY EVENT

Willshire, Ohio | Business Closes to Honor Veterans

169 S. Jefferson Street, Berne, IN 46711 (877)589-2145 • www.EPGraphics.com

22 CALENDAR OF EVENTS INDEX OF ADVERTISERS A Perfect Blend ABC Real Estate Adams Memorial Hosp Amishville Campground Aunt Bee's Drive-In Berne Chamber of Com Biggs Property Manage BKM Real Estate Blackcreek Peddler Bluffton Tire Bryant Combine Parts Century 21 Advance Classics Plus Auto Sales Courtyard Lakes Villas D L Schwartz Co dasMarit Farmers & Art Earthen Treasures East of Chicago Edelweiss Floral Eichhorn Jewelry El Carreton Mexican El Matador Mexican Engine House Quilt Geels Backhoe Gersh's Carpet Cleaning GM Plants & Produce Graber Insurance Habegger Furniture Headz Up Hair & Tan Heller Nursery Hitzer Stove

6 4 48 7 34 12 43 34 31 19 46 6 32 15 21 9 28 13 32 16 19 8 37 44 31 2 32 13 33 15 30

Honegger Ringger & Co Jerry Flack Financial Joe's Lighting Products Karen's Treasures Klenk's Sales & Service Lillie's Tin Ceiling Limberlost Massage & Markle Health & Rehab MR Planners NCGLNAC Niblick's Downtown Once I Was Pizza King of Decatur River Terrace Estates Schug House Inn Schwartz Manufactur Schwartz Shoe Store Signature Healthcare Simon's Mfg. Steve Rich Insurance Swiss Village Retirement Swiss Woodworking Swissland Cheese Co The Hope Clinic Troxel Equipment Van Wert Council on Van Wert CVB Van Wert Peony Festival Velocity Motors Willshire Home Furnish Yager-Kirchhofer Zurcher's Best-One Tire

38 38 39 14 40 20 9 38 36 25 42 28 25 34 44 14 28 7 14 43 21 39 40 37 39 21 33 18 44 20 16 4

29 MEDLER'S FURNITURE

Portland, Indiana | Variety of Home Furnishings

35 COLLIER'S HEATING & A/C Ossian, Indiana | Home Comfort Systems

41 KLENK'S SALES & SERVICE Decatur, Indiana | Featuring GE Applianc

45 SEARCH CONTEST 46 CLIP & SAVE COUPONS

Read Wabash Valley Living Online Anytime at: www.wabashvalleyliving.com

Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without permission. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

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Wholesale Carpet Outlet Express Young Hoosiers Adopt Business Idea from Dalton, Georgia Outlets Article and Photos by Jim Lockwood

on Lynch and his twin brother, Don, began buying wholesale and selling retail at the tender age of just fourteen. Their dad drove them from Connersville, Indiana to Dalton, Georgia to buy a load of “peacock” bedspreads. Smiling, Ron explains, “They called them that because no matter what color they were, they all had a huge peacock design in the center of the spread.”

The young entrepreneurs brought the bedspreads back to Connersville. They set up a sign out front of their home on State Highway 44, with the youthful expectation that customers would surely show up. And, they did! Inventory disappeared quickly, so the brothers and dad went back down to Dalton and bought another load. Ron and Don promptly sold out again, and they made another run to Georgia.

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On the four th or fif th trip, however, the wholesaler from which they bought the spreads was out of business—apparently, having satisfied the nation’s thir st for peacock bedspreads. Obser ving all the c a r p e t o u t l e t s in Dalton, their father suggested carpeting, instead. That’s when Ron and Don Lynch really began to learn the trade of buying goods wholesale, transpor ting them home and selling them retail. The boys soon moved their growing business to a small building their father had built on Central Avenue in Connersville. Ron had found his life’s calling, and the trips to Georgia became more frequent during the next few years.

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Just as most successful entrepreneurs, Ro n wa s p r e p a r e d f o r n e w opportunities. Such an opportunity appeared when a floor covering business in Gettysburg, Ohio—owned by a friend of his father—was in need of some financial help. “Dad helped him out,” says Ron, “and eventually bought the store.” Ron took over the business in Gettysburg a few years later and turned it into a profitable enterprise, with some help. “When I started at Wholesale Carpet Outlet Express, I didn’t know anything about profit and loss statements and such,” says Ron. “Tom Collins, one of dad’s friends, worked with us for about 10 years and gave me the ins and outs on profit and loss.” Grinning, Ron says, “He kinda pounded on me and helped me put things in perspective.” About 3 years ago, says Ron, “I had been thinking about expanding into another location and had considered opening an outlet store in Portland, where I thought there was a need. Roger Inman mentioned he owned an empty warehouse there.” Here was another opportunity that fit into Ron’s plans. “I came to Portland and met with him and his wife, and ended up renting the place from him.”

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Ron set to work turning the warehouse into an extension of the Gettysburg, Ohio Wholesale Carpet Outlet Express. Looking for a local person to manage the store in Portland, Ron spoke with representatives of his suppliers and a local carpet installer, who directed him to Toni Goodhew. A retailer who had experience with carpeting and other flooring, Toni We Don’t Monkey Around at

of Bluffton

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is now the proud manager of Wholesale Carpet Outlet Express in Portland, Indiana, while Ron shuttles back and forth from the Gettysburg store. “I’ve worked here for the full 3 years we’ve been on this site,” says Toni. After a moment’s reflection, she adds, “This place is just like home now.” Toni has arranged the reception and office areas to her satisfaction. “I like making seasonal displays to please myself and the customers.” Toni works selling flooring, binding rugs, and talking with customers. “Sometimes, I will do a measurement of rooms in their houses, although that’s really the job of the installers. Once in a while, a customer will ask me about compatible colors for their rooms. “I also make rugs by cutting them to size and shape and then bind them. The other morning, an employee at Arby’s told me, ‘My mom just loves you; she said you’d do anything for anybody!’” Toni recalls, “Her mom had won a 12 x 14’ piece of carpet from us and asked me to bind it for her. It was a busy week, but I did find time to bind it on all four sides and had it ready a day early.

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“I happily called her and told her it was done. She sounded a bit apologetic and slowly said, ‘Actually, I need it to be 12 x 13.’ “So, later that day, I unrolled the rug and had the knife in my hand ready to cut again when the phone rang.” The same customer was calling back with yet another set of dimensions. Toni patiently cut the piece to the customer’s specifications and applied the binding a second time. “I want everybody to be happy with the service they get here,” she explains. “I want it to be a good experience.” Wholesale Carpet Outlet Express sells and installs all types and sizes of flooring: carpets and rugs, laminates, vinyl, and ceramic tile. Sizes range from custom rugs that Toni cuts and binds, to flooring for large homes. Portland has been a good move for Ron. He says, “I like Portland, I just wish my building was bigger, like the one in Gettysburg.” Ron enjoys working with customers and finding bargains he can pass on to his customers. “I buy value— something I can buy reasonably and sell reasonably and still make a profit on it.

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“The profit comes, not from the sale, but from being able to buy bargains.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION: 122 W. Rogers Street Portland, IN 47371 (260) 766-4262 www.wcoexpress.com And, find Wholesale Carpet Outlet Express on Facebook!

~OPENING DAY~ Saturday, May 9th .............

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LIVING DATE: Friday, May 8th, 2015

TIME: 4 to 6 p.m.

LOCATION: Simon's Manufacturing

7315 US Hwy 27 S Berne, IN 46711 (260) 589-3223

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Warmer weather has finally arrived, and #WabashValleyLiving is going On the Road. We’ll be visiting a few of our advertisers in the months ahead – and you’re invited, too!

Stop by between 4-6 p.m. to say “hello” and SAVE 20% STOREWIDE during Simon's Spring Fling event! And, enter our drawing for your chance to

WIN A $75 GIFT CERTIFICATE courtesy of Simon's Manfacturing in Berne, Indiana and your friends at Wabash Valley Living!

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Manufacturing Concrete Steps and Stylish Lawn Ornaments to Set Your Home Apart Article and Photos by Sylvia Marbach

pring is the perfect time of year to get a head start on that long list of outdoor projects you’ve been adding to all winter. If you need new steps, a replacement railing, or even a concrete fountain to add some individuality to your backyard, Simon’s Manufacturing in Berne, Indiana should be your first stop. When Simon’s Steps was put up for sale in the early 90s, Berne resident Garry Mikesell

decided to purchase it. “My husband thought he wanted to be an independent business owner,” explains Garry’s wife Elaine. “He is a go-getter. He knows a little bit about everything and is always willing to learn. For him, he loved it from the getgo.” Although the original owner, Frank Simon, had focused exclusively on concrete steps, Garry used his training and experience

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to greatly expand the store. “I went to tool and die engineering school,” Gar y says. “That’s how I got into this area. “When I got out of school, I worked in Grand Rapids, Michigan for four years. And then, I got a job in the tool and die design department at CTS in Berne. I worked there for 35 years.” Elaine adds, “We met at CTS, so I’ve always worked alongside him, which is a huge plus. I at least understand his ups and downs. When you work with your mate in a business, you understand and appreciate them more.” Simon’s Manufacturing became the vehicle that allowed Garry to run his own tool and die shop. While still keeping the original name and product, the couple added onto the shop. When CTS closed its tool and die shop, Garry acquired their equipment and added it to his small business. While the shop offers a variety of products and services, Elaine reports, “The pre-cast concrete steps are what we depend on, as well as the tool shop. That’s our bread and butter.”

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She explains, “We replace steps that are falling apart, broken, or deteriorating, or where they’ve added an addition, or it’s a new home. We do patio blocks, parking blocks, splash blocks, dog bowls and mail box stands. We’re making deliveries to big places that inventory pallets full of products. “We also build custom handrails for our steps,” she adds. “The railings that we make are steel, and they’re powder coated at Panacea in Decatur. These are available in various colors. We go out and measure and find out what the customer needs or wants and try to meet that need.” Customers of Simon’s Manufacturing can feel at ease, knowing that everything is a product of local means. Elaine says, “Concrete is basically sand, stone and cement. “Those are all things that are bought locally. Sand and stone either come from Berne Ready Mix or US Aggregates. Cement is an Indiana product, also. “The lawn ornaments we retail come primarily from Indiana or Ohio. We try very hard to support local businesses.” In addition to the shop, the Mikesells employ a wide variety of business opportunities. Garry explains, “We’ve got you-store-it buildings, we’ve got a driving range, we’ve got a car lot and a tool and die shop. “We don’t manufacture them, but we do sell paver blocks and things like that. The patio–the outdoor world– has really changed over the years that we’ve been here. We started selling paver blocks because that was a trend, but also it enhances the property value versus a cement slab.

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366 US 27 North, Berne

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7315 US Hwy 27 S - Just south of Berne

(260)589-3223

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Schwartz Mfg. LLC 1261 WEST 200 SOUTH Berne, IN 46711

Karen’s Treasures New & Used Home Furnishings

“It used to be, you just poured a cement slab for a patio. Now, you have your patio stones, your walls, and stuff like that. That’s an addition that we didn’t used to sell. It wasn’t available. It enhances the value of your home versus what used to be available.” The concrete business has changed significantly over the years. “20 or 30 years ago, we had a lot of business manufacturing step units for mobile homes,” Elaine says. “That doesn’t exist anymore for us. Now, it’s replacing old ones that have fallen apart or adding steps when there’s remodeling or a new addition.” She continues, “With the retail concrete, there’s been a bigger change. The younger generation is more of a buy-something-and-throwit-away, whereas with my age group, we bought something, and it was supposed to last forever. So, there’s a big difference in how people decorate their yards.” Despite the Mikesells’ observation that cheap, plastic products are popular, the couple stands by the lasting quality of their concrete products. Garry adds, “The types of lawn ornaments we carry vary according to the younger generation’s trends. At one time, we couldn’t keep geese in stock, but we only sell about two a year now. We used to sell a lot of concrete urns, but today, they want

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444 E. Main Street, Berne (260) 589-2002 Open 10-5:30 Monday, Thursday, Friday & 9-1:30+ Saturday

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sell plastic. Now, angels are really hot– everybody wants angels. “That change is almost yearly, or every few years. You just have to follow a trend. “I know what happens–they see it in the magazine. It looks really neat, and they start buying it, and everybody thinks that’s neat, and a trend starts. So, we have to follow the trends on the concrete ornaments.” According to Elaine, another change is coming to Simon’s. Customers will see more activity on the property’s used car lot, as Matt Rupp joins the team at Simon’s. “We’re excited about it because he brings in a lot of people, too.” As Garry and Elaine have begun to ease into retirement, they are preparing to hand off the business to their son, Carey. “We’ve got great employees that can handle the business, and we enjoy our semiretirement,” says Elaine. Despite the close of their season there, the couple is still active at Simon’s. Elaine laughs, “I couldn’t stay home all the time. I know that.” She admits they’ll still be involved for some time. “No doubt about it, my husband will be at the shop until he can no longer get here.”

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FOR MORE INFORMATION: 7315 S. US Hwy 27 Berne, IN 46711 (260) 589-3223 simonsmfg.com

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Memorial Day Museum Willshire Business Puts Sales on Hold for Annual Memorial Day Event Article by Dee Fisher, Photo by Craig Orosz

emorial Day, or Decoration Day, as it is known in some parts of the country, is a uniquely American holiday. Begun after the Civil War to remember thousands of soldiers who had perished in those battles, May 30th soon became a day of remembrance for all those who had given their lives in every American conflict. In 1971, Congress changed the date of Memorial Day to the last Monday in May, creating a convenient three-day holiday

that has come to mark the beginning of summertime, barbeques, and vacations. For Aleta Weiss, Memorial Day was always more than the day public pools and ice cream stands opened up for the summer. Her father, Delmore Mitch, served in World War II, a member of the 654th Engineers Topographic Battalion. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They were the ones who made the maps for the army fighting in Europe,â&#x20AC;? Aleta

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explains. “Dad would never talk about his experiences in the war. In fact, like many vets, he downplayed his service. “What he did do was prepare a manila envelope full of paperwork for his funeral. We weren’t allowed to open it until he died.” What Aleta discovered after his death was that her father was involved in many battles in the days following D-Day, including the Battle of the Bulge, the largest and bloodiest battle the US fought in WWII. After his death, she found his old uniform, pictures, and a complete explanation of where her father fought during the war. In August 2010, Aleta and her husband became the owners of the Willshire Home Furnishings store in the village of Willshire. That first Memorial Day, Aleta wanted to honor her father by displaying his uniform and a few other artifacts of the period in her store windows. “It (her father’s uniform) just didn’t seem like enough, hanging there by itself. So, I talked to the American Legion commander and got a list of ten names of local vets still living,” she says. The week she contacted those veterans, twenty-three uniforms were brought in for her display, just through her efforts and by word of mouth around the community. She

began to see that there were many, many vets of 20th century American conflicts who wanted to share their memories. “We don’t always give credit to these men and women for what they have done for us. We owe our freedoms to them,” Aleta says. When she told her husband and daughter she wanted to close down the business for the entire weekend to display the old soldiers’ memorabilia, they thought she had

VAN WERT PEONY FESTIVAL JUNE 5, 6, 7, 2015 ArtRageous Art Show Craft Show

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Free Concerts Grand Parade

Car Show

www.VanWertPeony.com (419) 495-4016 zingstrth@gmail.com

lost her mind. Who would come to the little town of Willshire just to see a bunch of old, dusty relics? No one thinks she’s crazy now. Last year, over 740 people signed the guest book at the door. “And, I don’t think that was everyone who came in,” says Aleta. The second year, more uniforms and memorabilia came in; the third year, 94 uniforms and more artifacts; last year, more than 103 uniforms, and items, such as helmets, telegrams, newspaper articles, medals, photos, swords, flags and other wartime relics. “We have items from just about every American war, including a belt buckle from the Civil War. There are pieces here from WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Afghanistan, and Iraq.” There are even artifacts from the Japanese and Nazi armies on display. Toward the end of April, the Weiss family and workers begin to move all the floor displays to the back of the store. Nearly everything is cleared out to make room for the hundreds of small displays.

TIME FOR SPRING CLEANUP! WE REPLACE TIRES FOR: Lawn Mowers Boat Trailers Yard Carts Wheel Barrows We have Lawn Mower Batteries and Marine Batteries

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Aleta says they have even used pieces from the store’s inventory to help create display “stickmen” that hold the uniforms, the core of this weekend museum. This year, the local American Legion has purchased new American flag banners to decorate the entrance to the exhibit. The store itself is closed for business from Friday through Monday, but the collection won’t be open to the public until Saturday. Friday is reserved for local nursing home and assisted living residents. “It’s difficult for some of the elderly to get around the displays, so we thought that a day set aside just for them to

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PROUDLY SUPPORTING OUR MILITARY MEN & WOMEN

318 State Street, Willshire, OH 419.495.2833 Bill & Aleta Weiss, Owners

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BRING YOUR MILITARY UNIFORMS/MEMORABILIA TO OUR STORE BY MAY 19th

THE STORE WILL BE CLOSED FOR BUSINESS SO WE MIGHT HONOR OUR VETERANS, PAST & PRESENT, WITH AN ARRAY OF MILITARY DISPLAYS.

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MILITARY MUSEUM

attend would make it easier for them to maneuver their way through the aisles at their own pace,” explains Aleta.

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There is no fee charged to enter the collection, only a canister set out to take donations for the Honor Flight organization that takes elderly veterans of past wars, especially WWII, to Washington D.C. to view the memorials set up specifically to honor their service to their country. Aleta became a chaperone for the flights and then was asked to join the board of the regional hub for the organization. All the monies go to help sponsor local veterans’ flights. The first year, $1500 was raised, and the totals have gone up from there. Aleta is clear about her intentions with this exhibit. “I’m not out to toot my own horn or promote my own business. I’m out to educate the present generation about the sacrifices of those who came before them.” She plans to continue the event every year for as long as she can. “I feel a great responsibility to be entrusted with people’s memories. Many vets and their families have benefited from being able to share, sometimes for the first time, their experiences in war.” The exhibit will be open to the public on May 23rd through Memorial Day, from 9 a.m. through 6 p.m. each day. Aleta and her family invite the public to visit the fifth annual memorial museum and honor the memories of those who gave their all for the country and people they loved.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: 318 State Street Willshire, OH 45898 (419) 495-2833 And, find Willshire Home Furnishings on Facebook!

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419.495.2455

Van Wert County Council on Aging Presents:

Friday, June 12, 2015 Doors Open at 4:30 p.m. BINGO begins at 6:00 p.m. Purchase Tickets at the Senior Center– (or, tickets can be mailed)

$20 Presale (before June 1, 2015) $25 at the Door (if any remain)

All BINGO Purses are Authentic Designer Handbags Door Prizes Awarded! - Concessions Available! **Must be at least 18 years of age to attend this event.** Proceeds will benefit programs & services for Van Wert County senior citizens.

220 Fox Road, Van Wert OH 45891 (419) 238-5011

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MAY EVENTS CALENDAR

1st

Shop Local Event Begins Chamber of Commerce Berne, Indiana (260) 589-8080

Annual Free Senior Breakfast 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Swiss Village Auditorium Berne, Indiana (260) 589-3173

Apartment Open House 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Swiss Village Berne, Indiana (260) 589-3173

Community Garage Sales 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Citywide Bluffton, Indiana (260) 824-6069

Artists in Action

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Ballentine Gallery Bluffton, Indiana (260) 824-5222

Annual High School Invitational Continues 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Wassenberg Art Center Van Wert, Ohio (419) 238-6837

LEGO Club

3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Berne Public Library Berne, Indiana (260) 589-2809

Hidden Places, Secret Spaces 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Downtown Van Wert, Ohio (419) 238-6911

The Fox on the Fairway Continues 7:00 p.m. Van Wert Senior Center Van Wert, Ohio (419) 605-6708

(Every Saturday in May) 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Dutch Mill Plaza Bluffton, Indiana (260) 824-6412

HazMat Day

8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Bluffton Middle School Bluffton, Indiana (260) 824-6069

Community Garage Sales 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Citywide Bluffton, Indiana (260) 824-6069

Evergreen Garden Club Perennial Plant Sale 8:30 a.m. Fountain Park Van Wert, Ohio (419) 238-9378

4th

Cozy Christian Readers 10:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Adams Public Library Decatur, Indiana (260) 724-2605

Mom's Support Group 1:00 p.m. Adams Memorial Hospital Decatur, Indiana (260) 724-2145

Poetry Coterie

3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Adams Public Library Decatur, Indiana (260) 724-2605

Kids Book Club 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Berne Public Library Berne, Indiana (260) 589-2809

Rainbow Bottom Guided Tour

Healthcare Provider CPR Class

Weekly Bicycle Ride

Musical Monday

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Limberlost Visitors Center Geneva, Indiana (260) 368-7428

(Every Saturday in May) 10:00 a.m. Adams Memorial Hospital Decatur, Indiana derekvrablic@gmail.com

Bison Hike

10:00 a.m. Ouabache State Park Bluffton, Indiana (260) 468-2127

5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Adams Memorial Hospital Decatur, Indiana (260) 724-2145 6:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Wells County Library Ossian, Indiana (260) 622-4691

Mother's Day Craft 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Adams Public Library Decatur, Indiana (260) 724-2605

Prehistoric Indian & 1790s Battle Artifacts Show

5th

Convention & All Day Sing

Blood Pressure Checks

12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Fort Recovery State Museum Fort Recovery, Ohio (419) 375-4649 1:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Gospel Barn Bluffton, Indiana (651) 269-2120

2nd

3Rd

7:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Jay County High School Portland, Indiana (260) 726-1923

8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Riverside Center Decatur, Indiana (260) 724-2341

Spring Health Fair

Farmers Market

Decatur Flea Market

May 2015 Wabash Valley Living

SASC Pool Tournament 8:30 a.m. South Adams Senior Center Berne, Indiana (260) 589-8877

12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Muselman Wellness Pavilion Berne, Indiana (260) 589-4496

Club 101 Bicycle Ride (Every Tuesday in May) 6:30 p.m. Adams Memorial Hospital Decatur, Indiana n07link@yahoo.com

PJ Story Hour

6:30 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. Wells County Library Bluffton, Indiana (260) 824-1612

6th

Needles, Hooks & Pins 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Adams Public Library Decatur, Indiana (260) 724-2605

Book & Lunch Club

10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Fort Recovery Public Library Fort Recovery, Ohio (419) 375-2869

Tai Chi with Alexa 11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Storybook Park Decatur, Indiana (260) 724-2605

Farmers Market

(Every Wednesday in May) 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Dutch Mill Plaza Bluffton, Indiana (260) 824-6412

Challenging Bicycle Ride (Every Wednesday in May) 4:30 p.m. Fleetwood Office Parking Lot Decatur, Indiana cmj1761@gmail.com

7th

Garage-Less Sale

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. South Adams Senior Center Berne, Indiana (260) 589-8877

Moms' Morning Out 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. YMCA Bluffton, Indiana (260) 565-9622

Preschool Early Literacy Class 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Adams Public Library Geneva, Indiana (260) 368-7270

LEGO Club

3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Adams Public Library Decatur, Indiana (260) 724-2605

Genealogy Workshop

9th

6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Wells County Library Bluffton, Indiana (260) 824-1612

Community Garage Sales

Weight Watchers Meeting 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Adams Memorial Hospital Decatur, Indiana (260) 724-2145

All Day Citywide Berne, Indiana (260) 589-8080

Service Club Pancake & Sausage Day 6:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Van Wert High School Van Wert, Ohio (419) 238-9378

Clue, The Musical 8:00 p.m. Van Wert Civic Theatre Van Wert, Ohio (419) 238-9689

Farmers & Artists Market

8th

Community Garage Sales All Day Citywide Berne, Indiana (260) 589-8080

(Every remaining Saturday in May) 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. US Hwy 27 & State Road 218 Berne, Indiana (260) 525-2111

Women's Self Defense Class 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. City Gym Bluffton, Indiana (260) 824-6069

Leadercast 2015 8:00 a.m. YMCA Camp Clay Van Wert, Ohio (419) 238-4390

Childbirth Education Class 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Adams Memorial Hospital Decatur, Indiana (260) 724-2145

Artists in Action

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Ballentine Gallery Bluffton, Indiana (260) 824-5222

Run with Endurance 5K 9:00 a.m. Common Ground Church Decatur, Indiana (260) 241-4875

Garage-Less Sale

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. South Adams Senior Center Berne, Indiana (260) 589-8877

Ladies Day at the Range

Arts in the Park: Cass Blue 7:00 p.m. Memorial Park Ohio City, Ohio www.villageofohiocity.org

9:30 a.m. Outdoorsman Association Range Van Wert, Ohio (419) 203-5234

Movie at the Branch

Ballet: Coppelia & Visions of Degas

10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Wells County Library Ossian, Indiana (260) 622-4691

Merchants Cruise-In

10:00 a.m. Adams Woodcrest Campus Center Decatur, Indiana (260) 223-0639

7:30 p.m. Bluffton High School Bluffton, Indiana (260) 824-5222

6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Downtown Fort Recovery, Ohio (419) 375-4908

Woodcrest Fitness Walk

Monthly Open House 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Jay Co. Historical Museum Portland, Indiana (260) 726-7168

www.wabashvalleyliving.com

Ballet: Coppelia & Visions of Degas 2:30 p.m. Bluffton High School Bluffton, Indiana (260) 824-5222

Saturday Night at the Village 7:00 p.m. Swiss Village Auditorium Berne, Indiana (260) 589-3173

11th

Mom's Support Group 1:00 p.m. Adams Memorial Hospital Decatur, Indiana (260) 724-2145

Brown Bag Book Club 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Wells County Library Bluffton, Indiana (260) 824-1612

Kids Book Club 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Berne Public Library Berne, Indiana (260) 589-2809

iPad Club

Tai Chi with Alexa

Preschool Early Literacy Class

Jewelry Class with Becky Lehman

2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Wells County Library Bluffton, Indiana (260) 824-1612

2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Adams Public Library Geneva, Indiana (260) 368-7270

LEGO Club

3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Adams Public Library Geneva, Indiana (260) 368-7270

Cookbook Club 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Wells County Library Bluffton, Indiana (260) 824-1612

No Boys Allowed! Book Club 6:30 p.m. Wells County Library Bluffton, Indiana (260) 824-1612

No Girls Allowed! Book Club

Blood Pressure Clinic

6:30 p.m. Wells County Library Bluffton, Indiana (260) 824-1612

Blood Pressure Clinic

6:30 p.m. Creative Arts Center Bluffton, Indiana (260) 824-5222

8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. McDonald's Decatur, Indiana (260) 724-2145

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Richard's Restaurant Decatur, Indiana (260) 724-2145

Blood Pressure Checks 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Muselman Wellness Pavilion Berne, Indiana (260) 589-4496

Red Cross Bloodmobile 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. South Adams Senior Center Berne, Indiana (260) 589-8877

Computer Club

1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Wells County Library Bluffton, Indiana (260) 824-1612

Fiber Arts Group

11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Storybook Park Decatur, Indiana (260) 724-2605

1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. South Adams Senior Center Berne, Indiana (260) 589-8877

14th

Moms' Morning Out 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. YMCA Bluffton, Indiana (260) 565-9622

JL Trekkers

3:30 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. Adams Public Library Decatur, Indiana (260) 724-2605

Thursday Night Cruise-In 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Arby's Restaurant Portland, Indiana (260) 726-8006

Weight Watchers Meeting 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Adams Memorial Hospital Decatur, Indiana (260) 724-2145

Who Picked This Book, Anyway? Book Club

13th

6:30 p.m. Wells County Library Bluffton, Indiana (260) 824-1612

7:00 a.m. Tri-State Club Grounds Portland, Indiana (260) 726-4036

6:30 p.m. Van Wert Historical Museum Van Wert, Ohio (419) 771-9851

Tri-State Swap/Sell Meet Opens

Night at the Museum: Zentangles, Part 1

Antique Collectible & Crafts Flea Market Opens

15th

All Day Jay County Fairgrounds Portland, Indiana (260) 703-2722

Needles, Hooks & Pins 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Adams Public Library Decatur, Indiana (260) 724-2605

May 2015 Wabash Valley LIving

Community Garage Sales All Day Village-Wide Convoy, Ohio (419) 749-2266

Master Gardeners Plant Sale 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Wells County 4-H Park Bluffton, Indiana (260) 824-6412

Artists in Action

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Ballentine Gallery Bluffton, Indiana (260) 824-5222

(260)728-2151 310 E. Monroe Decatur, IN

Spring Pioneer Camp Opens 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. YMCA Camp Clay Van Wert, Ohio (419) 203-4232

LEGO Club

3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Berne Public Library Berne, Indiana (260) 589-2809

16th

Community Garage Sales All Day Village-Wide Convoy, Ohio (419) 749-2266

Master Gardeners Plant Sale 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Wells County 4-H Park Bluffton, Indiana (260) 824-6412

SMORGASBORD LUNCH: Mon. thru Fri. 11a.m. - 1p.m. | Sun. 11a.m. - 1:30p.m.

SMORGASBORD DINNER: Tues., Thurs., & Sat. 5p.m. - 9p.m.

15% OFF TOTAL BILL –when you present the coupon on page 46–

Mad Run 2015

8:00 a.m. Ambassador Park Fort Recovery, Ohio www.themadrun.com

Junior Achievement 5K Road Race 8:30 a.m. South Adams High School Berne, Indiana (260) 525-0424

Flea Market & Garage Sales 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Amishville Campground Geneva, Indiana (260) 589-3436

Saturday Afternoon at the Movies 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Wells County Library Bluffton, Indiana (260) 824-1612

Blackwood Brothers Quartet 6:00 p.m. Gospel Barn Bluffton, Indiana (651) 269-2120

12th Annual NCGLNAC Gathering of Great Lakes Nations June 13 & 14, 2015

Tri-State Antique Gas Engine Association Grounds 1010 Morton Street, Portland, Indiana Saturday 10 to 9 p.m.; Sunday 10 to 4 p.m. EDST Dinner Break on Saturday 4:30 - 6 pm

Open to the Public • Fun Family Activities Native American Foods and Vendors, Free Children’s Activities, Pre-1840 Re-Enactment Camp, Artisan Demonstrations, Hand Drum Contest

Bird of Prey Presentations

by Soarin’ Hawk Raptor Rehabilitation 11a.m. Saturday and Sunday Admission $4 • Children under 12 Free • Maximum $15/car 10% of the admission donated to the Jay County Humane Society Free Parking • Bring Lawn Chairs

www.wabashvalleyliving.com

Family Night at the Races

Support Our Troops

Seniors Theater Thursday

VW Dance Club Dance

Ryan Hirschy & Brad Byerly in Concert

LEGO Club

6:30 p.m. Montpelier Speedway Montpelier, Indiana (765) 728-8210 7:30 p.m. Goedde Building Van Wert, Ohio (419) 238-6571

17th

Bow Shoot

8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Ohio Progressive Sportsman Fort Recovery, Ohio (419) 375-9067

Springtime Kroozen the Courthouse 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Downtown Portland, Indiana (260) 251-1202

Blood Pressure Check 12:30 p.m. South Adams Senior Center Berne, Indiana (260) 589-8877

Mom's Support Group 1:00 p.m. Adams Memorial Hospital Decatur, Indiana (260) 724-2145

Free BINGO

1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. South Adams Senior Center Berne, Indiana (260) 589-8877

K123 Club: Make It & Take It 3:30 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. Adams Public Library Decatur, Indiana (260) 724-2605

6:00 p.m. South Adams Senior Center Berne, Indiana (260) 589-8877

Basket Making Class 6:00 p.m. City Hall Bluffton, Indiana (260) 824-6069

Evening Book Club

7:00 p.m. Fort Recovery Public Library Fort Recovery, Ohio (419) 375-2869

Blood Pressure Checks 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Muselman Wellness Pavilion Berne, Indiana (260) 589-4496

Preschool Early Literacy Class 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Adams Public Library Geneva, Indiana (260) 368-7270

Kids Club

6:30 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. Wells County Library Bluffton, Indiana (260) 824-1612

20th

Needles, Hooks & Pins 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Adams Public Library Decatur, Indiana (260) 724-2605

All Books Considered Book Discussion

Tai Chi with Alexa

Kids Book Club

21st

3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Adams Public Library Decatur, Indiana (260) 724-2605 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Berne Public Library Berne, Indiana (260) 589-2809

5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Wells County Library Bluffton, Indiana (260) 824-1612

11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Storybook Park Decatur, Indiana (260) 724-2605

Moms' Morning Out 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. YMCA Bluffton, Indiana (260) 565-9622

May 2015 Wabash Valley LIving

10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Wells County Library Bluffton, Indiana (260) 824-1612 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Adams Public Library Decatur, Indiana (260) 724-2605

Weight Watchers Meeting 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Adams Memorial Hospital Decatur, Indiana (260) 724-2145

LEGO Club

6:30 p.m. Wells County Library Ossian, Indiana (260) 622-4691

22nd

Artists in Action

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Ballentine Gallery Bluffton, Indiana (260) 824-5222

Teens with Tunes

7:00 p.m. Muensterberg Plaza Berne, Indiana www.berneclocktower.org

Arts in the Park: Cass Blue & Dana Fair 7:00 p.m. Memorial Park Ohio City, Ohio www.villageofohiocity.org

Memorial Day Parade & Program 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Monument Park Fort Recovery, Ohio (419) 375-2530

23rd

Flea Market

7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Downtown Geneva, Indiana (260) 368-7251

Run for Warriors 5K 7:30 a.m. Community Building Middle Point, Ohio run4warriors@yahoo.com

Creature Feature

(260) 368-7270

Bison vs. Buffalo Hike

3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Adams Public Library Geneva, Indiana (260) 368-7270

Dazzling Dragonflies

6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Wells County Library Bluffton, Indiana (260) 824-1612

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Limberlost Visitors Center Geneva, Indiana (260) 368-7428 10:00 a.m. Ouabache State Park Bluffton, Indiana (260) 468-2127 7:00 p.m. Ouabache State Park Bluffton, Indiana (260) 468-2127

What a Hoot! with Souvenir 7:00 p.m. Ouabache State Park Bluffton, Indiana (260) 468-2127

The Waverunners: Beach Boys Tribute Band

27th

29th

7:00 a.m. Muselman Wellness Pavilion Berne, Indiana (260) 589-4496

9:00 a.m. Ouabache State Park Bluffton, Indiana (260) 468-2127

Blood Pressure Clinic 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. McDonald's Decatur, Indiana (260) 724-2145

Blood Pressure Clinic 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Richard's Restaurant Decatur, Indiana (260) 724-2145

Blood Pressure Checks 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Muselman Wellness Pavilion Berne, Indiana (260) 589-4496

Preschool Early Literacy Class 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Adams Public Library Geneva, Indiana

Artists in Action

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Ballentine Gallery Bluffton, Indiana (260) 824-5222

Mr. Speed: Kiss Tribute Band 8:00 p.m. Downtown Dunkirk, Indiana (765) 578-0229

Needles, Hooks & Pins

11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Storybook Park Decatur, Indiana (260) 724-2605

12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Museum of the Soldier Portland, Indiana (260) 726-2967

8:00 p.m. Downtown Dunkirk, Indiana (765) 578-0229

Holmes County Overnight Trip for Seniors

25th

Memorial Day Hours

7:00 p.m. Downtown Dunkirk, Indiana (765) 578-0229

Evening LEGO Club

9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Adams Public Library Decatur, Indiana (260) 724-2605

Exploring Nature Hike

The Wright Place Duo

LEGO Club

Tai Chi with Alexa

30th

Glass Days Festival Opens

8:00 a.m. Park Shelter Dunkirk, Indiana (765) 578-0229

Glass Days Annual 5K

11:00 a.m. Various Dunkirk, Indiana (765) 578-0229

Senior Luncheon & Elder Law Presentation 12:00 p.m. South Adams Senior Center Berne, Indiana (260) 589-8877

10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. YMCA Bluffton, Indiana (260) 565-9622

4:30 p.m. Ouabache State Park Bluffton, Indiana (260) 468-2127

Cook & Belle

Weight Watchers Meeting

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Wells County Library Bluffton, Indiana (260) 824-6069

Bike Hike

6:00 p.m. Gospel Barn Bluffton, Indiana (651) 269-2120

Moms' Morning Out

Homemade Card Class

12:00 p.m. Downtown Dunkirk, Indiana (765) 578-0229

The Nelons

28th

6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Adams Memorial Hospital Decatur, Indiana (260) 724-2145

Glass Days Parade

7:30 p.m. Downtown Dunkirk, Indiana (765) 578-0229

31ST

The Big Ditch

2:00 p.m. Van Wert Historical Museum Van Wert, Ohio (419) 771-9851

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Medler’s Furniture Family Business Survives Seven Decades by Changing with the Times Article and Photos by Jim Lockwood

red and Deloris Medler founded Fred Medler and Company, November 1944 at its present location on North Meridian Street in Portland, Indiana. Their son Neil began working for his parents when the business first opened. Seventy years later, Neil continues to work at the store, while his son and daughterin-law, Mike and Sue Medler, now manage the company. The three-generation family

establishment, known today as Medler’s Furniture, serves customers in Indiana and Ohio, “providing quality furniture at friendly prices.” Neil, now in his early 80s, remembers the beginning years clearly. “Back then, it was an entirely different world. Most people had a coal stove. And, there were thousands of ice refrigerators.”

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Prior to opening the business, Fred Medler delivered ice in Hartford City, Indiana. Neil points to a large photo collage above his desk. “I have a picture of me at three years of age on a wagon with him, with a horse delivering ice.“ (The photo collage may be viewed on the company’s website.) In 1944, Fred purchased a filling station and coal yard in Portland. The gasoline pumps are gone now, but the building remains as one end of Medler’s Furniture. “He bought the whole block,” says Neil. “ When the business originally opened, my parents ran a filling station and sold oil, coal, and appliances. “There was a railroad spur right behind, and that’s where the coal cars would deliver coal.” Because the spur came in at an angle, the back wall of that part of the building is at the same interesting angle.

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Call (260) 692-6366 Neil is a strong-looking man, even for his age. For sure, that strength was developed when he delivered coal. “I’ve been here ever since I was 13. The first thing I did was haul coal. That’s no fun, but I did it all.” Loading and unloading the trucks was done the old-fashioned way with implements resembling hay forks. Neil recalls the world in the 1940s, and for a few decades thereafter, when “you couldn’t find a place to park on Meridian Street. There were four or five lumberyards, two movie theaters, three department stores—it was all business.

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“It was a different world back then.” Neil continues, “I can’t tell you what year, but dad decided to add appliances. All we had was this small area for display. We carried refrigerators, washers, dryers, and oil stoves. We sold a lot of appliances.” As customers stopped to fill their tanks at the gasoline pumps, they came into the store. Neil describes, “As silly as it seems, it was like a modern convenience store. “Customers naturally took notice of the appliances and often came back to purchase something. When we had the appliances in here, dad thought, ‘Well, a lot of these stoves go into the kitchen,’ so he started selling dinette sets, too.” Customers began changing from coal to oil for more convenience. That’s when Fred Medler sold the coal business, and the number of homes and businesses to whom he sold oil increased.

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At that point, Neil’s role in the business evolved. “I helped install those oil stoves we sold. You had to have an outside tank, so you’d crawl

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under the house and run the copper tubing and hook it to the stove.” Neil also had to install chimneys and maintain the oil lines with their filters that froze in below-zero weather. Maintaining the chimneys was a service of the store, as well.

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In the late 1960s, Neil says, “Dad decided to expand the furniture part of the business. We went from selling dinette sets to furniture for the whole house. “So, he added onto the building. He tore down all that big barn of a building next to it and tore out the scales that weighed the coal. “We had started selling furniture out of the old building, which wasn’t very big,” Neil remembers. “Down two blocks, on the corner, was an old church for sale. He bought that church and put on a second story. “What we couldn’t store here, we put down there.” That building is still used as a warehouse for the store today.

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Neil says, “After this addition was built on, we still kept the gas pumps.” Laughing at the memory, he adds, “We were probably the only furniture store that sold gas.” The gas pumps are long gone, making room for parking in front of the modern store.

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Customers come from nearby cities and towns in Indiana and Ohio. Sue Medler mentions Fort Recovery, Celina, Greenville, and St. Henry in Ohio, and many more in the Wabash Valley area of Indiana, including Pennville, Dunkirk, Geneva, and Bryant.

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Cincinnati, and Fort Wayne who come with a trailer to purchase furniture and take it home with them. “We have a lot of return customers,” she adds. “We try to take the stress out of buying, we try to be helpful and not annoying.” The store is a “La-Z-Boy® Comfort Studio” with many types of recliners, as one might expect, and carries a full line of La-Z-Boy® furniture, such as sofas and other upholstered items. Sue and Mike have recently added the England line of furniture, to enhance their offerings. A large sign in the showroom tells the customers that virtually all of their furniture is “Made in America.” Some suppliers, especially the wood furniture makers in the United States, have either gone out of business or are importing foreign goods. However, one of Medler’s wood furniture lines is from A.A. Laun, a long-standing Wisconsin business. The styles they offer range from “Arts and Crafts” to many different modern lines. As suppliers change, so does the display at Medler’s Furniture. Presently, their website lists the following lines of furniture: La-Z-Boy®, Carolina Furniture Works, England Furniture, Riverside Furniture, Sleep Logic Mattress, Mohawk Flooring, A.A. Laun, and Stein World.

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Heating & Air Conditioning Reliability Meets Expert Innovation Article and Photos by Tiffany Schortgen

worked for an HVAC company in Carmel, Indiana.

In fact, Todd is considered an expert in geothermal systems. He was even part of the team that installed the first geothermal neighborhood in the country when he

Working for WaterFurnace, a manufacturer of geothermal comfort systems, he traveled the nation training other technicians in this

he team at Collier’s Heating & Air Conditioning may have been around for a while, but don’t let that fool you. These guys are on the cutting edge of HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) technology. For instance, co-owner Todd Zeplin holds two patents in geothermal technology.

At that point in time, Todd was a young man studying HVAC at Ivy Tech and working as a service technician. As a result of the successful geothermal project, Todd says, “I got to meet the guys at WaterFurnace and they recruited me up here.”

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growing field. Later, Todd became an applications engineer in charge of fieldtesting. In 1996, Todd joined ranks with some old friends, Kenneth Diekhoff (Kenny) and Joe Collier, who had opened Collier’s Heating & Air Conditioning in Warsaw several years prior and were in search of a third partner. As teenagers, Todd, Kenny, and Joe had worked together in the maintenance department at Danner’s Inc. in Indianapolis and had kept in touch over the years. When Todd became the third partner at Collier’s they opened the Ossian of fice, which expanded company’s market toHAVE TO COOK the LIKE YOU DON’T include customers in Wells and Allen counties and the surrounding areas. Each of the owners has a specific role in the company, and all have backgrounds in HVAC.

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“All three of us are committed,” Todd says. “We actually work in the business; we don’t just own it.” With Todd on board, and the availability of the geothermal tax credit, the company’s geothermal business began to grow exponentially. “Even though we’re a small dealership

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here, we quickly grew in the geothermal market and became one of WaterFurnace’s largest dealers.” He adds, “I would say we’ve installed over 2,000 geothermal systems since we started.” No matter what t ype of HVAC system you need, you can trust the professionals at Collier’s to do the job right. The company is filled with expert journeymen; in fact, Randy Puckett, who heads the installation department, also teaches journeyman courses in Allen County. And, all of Collier’s technicians are certified in the products they use and install. Todd laughs, “We used to hang our technicians’ certifications for display, until they overflowed the waiting room wall.” Todd said that although the technicians are certified in all brands, Collier’s promotes the brands they think are the best, including Lenox, for their gas and conventional product, and WaterFurnace, for their geothermal product. “Our service guys have a lot to say in the products we use because they have to maintain them, and they don’t like unhappy customers.” Collier’s tries to always align itself with the highest quality products, employees and partners. For example, Todd notes that the company only partners with a handful of builders when it comes to new construction. He explains that customers will look at the construction project as a whole, not just the heating and cooling service.

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Because of Collier’s expertise in the field, they were selected by the Fort Wayne Historical Society to install geothermal humidifiers and dehumidifiers at The History Center. These units protect precious artifacts in the society’s storage area. This type of indoor air quality equipment (air filters, humidifiers,

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and dehumidifiers) is another area in which Collier’s specializes. “You should see what’s out there now. There are dehumidifiers that will heat your basement and also dehumidify it in the summer.” Collier’s can configure, install and service the right air quality system to meet your needs. Collier’s pulls all of these technologies together when they design and install geothermal indoor pool systems. “We actually heat the water, dehumidify the air and heat and cool the building all at the same time.” And, the company ’s business operations are ahead of the curve with regard to innovation. From solar panels for energy to propane-powered trucks, everything is efficient at Collier’s offices. Collier’s is now focusing on solar energy for customers, as well. Todd says, “Solar is becoming more and more popular, especially when natural gas is not available.” They have several new solar projects set to install within the next year. Collier’s commitment to quality and innovation, in combination with the staff’s years of expertise, means reliability for Collier’s customers. And, reliability is what the slogan, “Trust Collier’s,” is all about – reliable performance, reliable products, and reliable people. Customers know that with Collier’s, they are getting a high quality product, installed correctly by highlytrained professional HVAC-certified technicians. For more information, visit Collier’s website or follow them on Facebook.

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KLENK’s Sales & Service Making a Wide Selection of GE Appliances Available in Adams County Article by Beth Steury, Photos by Ed Ferguson

s she points to a circa 1940 photo taken in front of Arnold’s & Klenk’s Roofing Supplies and Service in downtown Decatur, Indiana, Sandy Klenk reminisces about the beginning days of what is now Klenk’s Sales and Service, located on Southampton Drive. Ferd Klenk, Sandy’s father-in-law, and Kenneth Arnold operated the downtown store, which featured everything from roofing, building and plumbing supplies to appliances and hardware. In the early

1950s, Ferd took the appliance and plumbing portion of the business to a location outside of town, while Kenneth remained downtown with the lumber and building supplies. At the country location, Ferd also sold power equipment—lawn mowers, chain saws, snow blowers, etc. His son Jim, Sandy’s late husband, joined the business as a licensed plumber and electrician a couple of years after high school, following a short stint at Central Soya.

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Jim and Sandy married in 1981. Sandy held various part-time jobs as she cared for their son, Matthew, at home. In 1994, Jim and Sandy purchased Klenk’s Sales & Service from Ferd, who remained very active in the business into his 80s. “I’d never sold an appliance in my life,” admits Sandy with a laugh. They moved the business to Southampton Drive to be closer to their customers, renting the building where R & B Body Shop is now located. At that time, the Klenks chose to focus their business on GE appliances. The lot at their current location became available in 1996 and, in 1999, they erected the building that today houses Klenk’s Sales & Service. In 2002, Klenk’s joined BrandSource, a member-owned cooperative that offers national identity to over 4500 independent dealer members who benefit from more than 14 million dollars in buying power. “It enables us to be able to buy just as good as the big box stores,” explains Sandy, who is proud to be associated with this national organization.

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In 1998, Jim and Sandy won a 10-day trip to the Mediterranean for their store’s increase in GE sales. In 2010, they were privileged to take a private tour at the Decatur, Alabama refrigerator plant and to pose for a picture with the 25-millionth refrigerator to roll off the line. Sandy also toured the dishwasher plant in Louisville. “They’re one of the largest American (appliance) companies,” Sandy says. “We’ve had the opportunity to take on a lot of different brands, but I just like GE. They’ve treated us well which allows us to treat our customers well.” Klenk’s is a GE Showcase Retailer, meaning they feature a large selection and stylish floor displays of GE Appliances. They are designated dealers of the Café series, the Profile series, and Hotpoint, the value line handled by GE. In addition, they are an authorized dealer of “as-is” and “scratch and dent” appliances. Klenk’s houses approximately 250 appliances and receives deliveries twice a week from the Louisville distribution center. “We have a big warehouse,” Sandy notes, which allows customers the option to purchase new appliances while rebates and sale prices are in effect and then store their purchases in the warehouse for up to 90 days until their building or remodeling projects are complete. “We are the only GE Café dealer in northeast Indiana,” Sandy remarks. The Café line is a step down from the pro series—the appliances made for restaurant use. About two years ago, GE, who boasts they are “constantly looking ahead to push the style envelope,” introduced the slate finish. The dark matte appearance naturally hides fingerprints, smudges and dirt and blends well with other stainless, black or white appliances.

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Later this year, GE will introduce the ChillHub, a refrigerator with integrated USB hubs, built-in Wi-Fi connectivity and an app that allows access to sensor data control via smartphone. It features “Milky Weigh,” a mobile milk jug monitoring system which provides real-time updates on how much milk you have left. Sandy, who has yet to see the new model, says, “It really is a good concept. I think it’s so cool.” Six days a week, Sandy pulls double dut y as owner- operator and saleswoman. “You get out of it what you put into it,” she observes. Klenk’s is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Sandy’s brother Don is employed in service and delivery, along with one other full-time employee in the warehouse. A part-time employee helps Sandy in the office and with cleaning.

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Sandy credits her husband Jim, who passed away in June of 2013, with teaching her everything she knows about appliances, customer service and sales. “I do have to thank our customers for being loyal GE appliances customers,” Sandy admits. “We appreciate each and every one of them.”

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Expires 05.31.15

Expires 05/31/15 Offer good for one service. One coupon per family. Not valid with any other offer.

LIMBERLOST MASSAGE and WELLNESS

• Enrolling in Medicare A+B/Medicaid • ABCD’s of the A-B-C-D Programs • Long Term Care Insurance Planning • Life Insurance Ideas • Investment Planning

I (260) 728-4740 tur . 13 t h Street, Deca

2 OFF a Haircut OR $5 OFF Chemical $ 5 OFF 1 Month Tanning $

1009 S. Williams Street Bluffton, IN

FREE 1 Hour Consultation!

22 2N

4800 N 400 W Decatur, IN

YOUR 6th MASSAGE IS FREE

with Any Purchase

any La Z Boy piece

Robin Lamb, CMT

25 OFF

while supplies last

(260) 525-0115

FREE

462 E. Line Street, Geneva IN

any Smith Brothers piece

5 Oz. Sample Holly-tone® Organic Plant Food

LIMBERLOST MASSAGE and WELLNESS

50 OFF

1125 Southampton Drive

Decatur, IN 46733

10% OFF YOUR IN-STORE PURCHASE AT Exp. 05/31/15

US Hwy 27

Just north of Berne, IN

ENGINE HOUSE QUILT SHOP

164 W. Main Street, Berne Show Us 50 Verification Stamps for Berne Chamber’s “Shop Local” Event, and get a

FREE FAT QUARTER! EXPIRES 05/30/15

COUPONS

Less invasive surgical procedures are now offered at AMH! From Dr. William Argus, one of the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading eye surgeons performing hundreds of small-incision cataract surgeries to Dr. David Stein leading the way with advanced technology for ear, nose and throat procedures to a new procedure called balloon kyphoplasty performed by Drs. Scott Colclasure and Charles Lindzy that heals spinal compression fractures with small injections and offers nearimmediate pain relief.

Dr. Argus: 1-800-773-6340 to schedule office consultations with follow up surgery at AMH by calling 260-724-2145 x1877. Dr. Stein: 1-888-881-4368 (ask to schedule in the Decatur Cinic). Drs. Colclasure and Lindzy are located at the hospital at 724-2145, ext. 1877.

SURGICAL WE REALIGN. SERVICES WE RENEW Healthy In Every Way adamshospital.org

800-736-4303

1100 Mercer Avenue

Decatur, IN 46733